Spraying device with wide spray arc

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a casing with an opened end for receiving a liquid and a holding end where the liquid is stored. Between the open end and the holding end there narrow neck. A ball is placed into the opened end of the casing, so that lodging the ball into the neck will seal the neck area so that the liquid contained within the holding area will remain in the holding area until the ball is dislodged upon impact. Attached to the opened end of the casing is a nozzle. The nozzle serves two purposes, first it assures that the liquid contained within the casing does not quickly run out of the device upon impact minimizing the spray area covered by the liquid. Additionally the nozzle contains a number of holes distributed throughout the surface of said nozzle, so that the passage of liquid through the nozzle will cause the device to flail erratically, further maximizing the area sprayed by the device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to liquid spraying device and moreparticularly, to a reusable impact actuated liquid spraying device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sport of paint ball in which individuals or teams of playersparticipate in simulated war games has become increasingly popular inrecent years. Generally, participants utilize various paint basedweapons which discharge a marking liquid to identify the players thathave been hit without causing serious bodily injury. As the sport hasgrown in popularity, paint ball weapons have evolved from single shotpistols and rifles to include automatic weapons and other devices basedon actual combat weaponry. These devices enhance the realism of such asimulated war game. Devices have been developed, attempting to spray theliquid contained within over a wide area. Because many of these devicesare not reusable, or contain components that need replacement, theexpense incurred is excessive. Also, devices have been developed thatare extremely complex in design. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,449teaches a spring loaded paint ball grenade with a series of levers,pistons and springs. Such a complex devices are expensive, and tend tomalfunction under continuous use. Additionally, other devices that arereusable employ casings with seams, or are held together by crimps. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,672 teaches a paint ball grenade with oneend of the internal cavity sealed by a crimp. This design greatly reducethe pressure that the casing can withstand, and also limits the amountof liquid held. Also, the wide opening in the casing, from which theliquid is dispersed, causes the device to abruptly expel its contents inthe proximate area of impact. This combination leads to a liquiddisbursement device that will spray a relatively small area.Furthermore, such a design also greatly reduces the life expectancy ofthe device and leads to additional expense.

Therefore, what is needed in the art is a liquid spraying device that isreusable to reduce the expense incurred in participating in these games.

Additionally, what is needed in the art is a reusable liquid sprayingdevice ruggedly constructed to maximize the amount of liquid that it cancontain as well as the amount of pressure that it can withstand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a liquid spraying device that isconstructed of a single seamless casing, and a nozzle that will assurethat the liquid dispersed by the device will cover a wide area.

The present invention comprises a casing with an opened end forreceiving a liquid and a holding end where the liquid is stored. Betweenthe open end and the holding end there narrow neck. A ball is placedinto the opened end of the casing, so that lodging the ball into theneck will seal the neck area so that the liquid contained within theholding area will remain in the holding area until the ball is dislodgedupon impact. Attached to the opened end of the casing is a nozzle. Thenozzle serves two purposes, first it assures that the liquid containedwithin the casing does not quickly run out of the device upon impactminimizing the spray area covered by the liquid. Additionally the nozzlecontains a number of holes distributed throughout the surface of saidnozzle, so that the passage of liquid through the nozzle will cause thedevice to flail erratically, further maximizing the area sprayed by thedevice.

To further assure that the device will not inadvertently disperse theliquid, an additional safety measure is incorporated into the presentinvention. The ball is first inserted into the neck region an adequatedistance to assure that the opened end and a portion of the neck regioncan be folded, this fold further secures the ball within the neck of thecasing. A cap is then placed above the fold to maintain the fold, andkeeping this cap in place, a pin passes through opposite ends of the cupand under the fold in the neck.

When the device is used the pin should be removed from the device. Theremoval of the pin will also free the cap from the fold in the neck. Thedevice can now be tossed or otherwise projected in a desirabledirection. Upon impact the ball will become dislodged from the neck, andthe device will flail erratically spraying a wide region. To furtheridentify the area that is sprayed the liquid contained within the casingcan be a marking liquid or paint.

An advantage of this device is the single seamless construction of thecasing. This rugged casing assures that the device will not tear or comeapart upon impact. The ruggedness of the device assures that the devicecan be used numerous times and eliminates the need to purchasereplacements.

Another advantage of the present invention is that its single seamlessconstruction allows for the maximum amount of liquid to contained withinthe device without concern for stressed seams or clips. A large volumeof liquid contained under high pressure assures that the area that theliquid will spray upon impact will be maximized. It is very desirablefor liquid spraying devices used for such a purpose to have the abilityto spray as great an area as possible.

A further advantage of the present invention is related to the design ofthe nozzle. The nozzle, attached to the opened end of the casing hasholes spaced throughout the surface of the nozzle that will cause theliquid spraying device to flail erratically as the liquid passes throughthe nozzle thus maximizing the area reached by the spray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be morecompletely understood by reference to the following description of oneembodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the cross section of the liquid spraying device withsafety cap sitting above the fold in the neck.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the nozzle showing the upper hole pattern.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the nozzle showing the lower hole pattern.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the cap.

FIG. 6 is a three quarters perspective view of one embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 7a shows a top view of a release device that allows the device tobe used as a trapstring actuated device.

FIG. 7b shows a side view of a release device that allows the device tobe used as a trapstring actuated device.

FIG. 8a shows a variation of a crimping cup that acts as a drop clip.

FIG. 8b shows a second view of the drop-clip crimping cup.

FIG. 9a shows a front view of a variation of the crimp cap with arelease handle.

FIG. 9b shows an end view of a variation of the crimp cap with a releasehandle.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplification set out hereinillustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shownone embodiment of the liquid spraying device of the present invention.The drawing depicts a single seamless one-piece molded casing 1, with aholding end 2 and an opened end 3. Between the holding end 2 and theopened end 3 is a narrow neck region 4. A liquid 5 is poured into thecasing 1 through the opened end 3 and fills the holding end 2. A ball 6is then lodged into the neck region 4 to assure that the liquid remainscontained in the holding end 2 until impact. A nozzle 7 is then attachedto the opened end 6 of the casing. The neck is then folded 8 and a cup 9is placed on top of the fold. This cup 9 will assure that the neckremains folded while handling. To further assure that the cup 9 remainsin contact with the folded casing, a pin (not shown) passes throughholes on opposite sides of the cup 9 and underneath the fold in the neckof the casing.

To further ensure stability and reduce the chances of unexpecteddispersion of the liquid paint, a groove in the neck of the casing canbe used to hold the check valve- or ball. Thus, only when a change ofpressure, or a pulse significant to dislodge the ball (check valve) isexperienced by the device, will the device dispense paint.

The positioning of the holes in the nozzle will play an important rolein the action of the device upon impact. FIG. 2 is a cross sectionalside view of the nozzle. FIG. 2 shows the upper portion of the nozzle 11where the holes are located, as well as the location of the teeth 13 inthe lower end of the nozzle 12 that assure that the nozzle remainsaffixed to the opened end of the casing. Additionally, FIG. 2 providesthe thickness of the nozzle housing and the internal volume of thenozzle. Finally, FIG. 2 provides the locations where the center pointsof the upper hole set 14, and the lower hole set 15 would bisect thelongitudinal axis 17 of the nozzle.

FIG. 3 gives greater detail to the positioning and dimensions of theupper holes. As shown in FIG. 2 the upper group of holes enter thenozzle casing and continue through the nozzle casing such that thecenter point of the upper holes, if extended, would bisect thelongitudinal axis 17 at about a 30 degrees angle. FIG. 3 shows thediameter 18 of holes, about 0.2 inches, the radius 19 of holes to beabout 0.1 inch. FIG. 3 also shows that the three holes are equidistantfrom each other on the outer perimeter of the nozzle, or about 120degrees.

FIG. 4 gives greater detail to the positioning and dimensions of thelower holes. As shown in FIG. 2 the lower group of holes enter thenozzle casing and continue through the nozzle casing perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the nozzle. FIG. 4 shows the the diameter 20 ofthe holes, the radius 21 of the holes (about 0.1 inches), and also showsthat the three holes are equidistant from each other. Additionally, thisview shows the radius of the three holes is offset to the left. It isthis combination of upper and lower hole angles that creates a moretortuous path for the water passing through these holes, causing thedevice to flail erratically and increasing the area sprayed by thedevice. Operationally, the invention may have more or less holes and mayhave a set of holes that dispense paint in such a fashion to induce spinalong the major axis of the device.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the cap, further providing allappropriate dimensions. A cotter pin and attached key ring (not shown)are further provided to complete the cap assembly. In operation, thepresent device is loaded with about 4 to 16 fl.oz. of “paint” (5) whichexpands the elastic reservoir (2) of the device. The liquid paint thusprovides a pressure to the check valve (6) in the fill/dischargeconduit, effectively sealing said conduit when the neck of the device iscrimped over and held in place by the retaining cup (9) and pin (10).When the pin is removed, the device can be thrown by the user. Uponimpact, the retaining cup (9) dislodges, the neck (4) straightens, thusstraightening the fill/discharge conduit. Resultant pressure dislodgesthe check valve (6) and the pressurized paint is supplied to the nozzle(7). The paint flowing to said nozzle exits through the wide arc holes(14) and the spin inducing holes (15), then later provides additionalspin to the device as a whole ensuring as effective and widespreaddispersion of the paint.

The seamless one-piece molded casing has a one-piece reservoir and oneopening through which the reservoir is filled with liquid paint andthrough which the liquid paint is expelled upon use of the device. Thisseamless one-piece molded casing is made by dip molding on a die usingan elastic dip molding material which those skilled in the art arewell-versed in and are commercially used to treat the handle of handtools and the like. Since this casing provides the fluid pressure fordispersing the liquid paint, the radius of liquid paint dispersion canbe designed by varying the wall thickness of the casing and the volumeof liquid paint in the reservoir. The relaxed or unfilled shape of thereservoir can also be used or varied to affect liquid paint pressure.

The retaining cap of one embodiment (FIG. 5) of the invention has aradial lip (23) to hold the folded over neck of the casing, and twoholes (24 and 25) to hold the retaining pin (10) that holds theretaining cap be being inserted into the crux of the folded neck (seeFIG. 1).

In another variation the crimp cap shown in FIGS. 7a and 7 b has a loop(71) affixed to the top of the cup through which a trip-wire can bethreaded. In operation a trip wire is affixed to the cap and the deviceis suspended on the trip-wire. The trip-wire may also be affixed to thecotter-pin that has been threaded through the two cotter-pin holes(72,73) and when stresses are applied to the trip-wire the cotter-pin isremoved and the device falls from retaining cap, spraying its intendedgame victim.

Further variations of the simple crimp-cap are envisioned, such as adrop wire booby trap as shown in FIGS. 8a and 8 b where the holder (80)springs open when the cotter pin (85) is removed. The device can beaffixed in various places by retaining means, such as a screw, tack orpin, in the mounting hole (81) The retaining means is used to hang thedevice from a chosen position such as a wall, branch or the like. Thecotter-pin is then attached to a line so that when the line is fouled itpulls the cotter-pin (85) out of the spring cap, which is comprised of afirst jaw (86) and a second jaw (87) with a common hinge (82) and anexpanding spring means (83), and a center pin (84) that holds the neckof the paint reservoir. The two jaws then open under the spring forceand drop the paint grenade.

In another embodiment of the device as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9 b, thecrimping cup (90) extends as a handle shape (93) with a cotter-pin hole(91) and a trip-wire hole (92). A trip-wire can be connected to thetrip-wire hole and the cotter-pin is removed to active the device

While this invention has been described as having a specific design, thepresent invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope ofthis disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the present invention using thegeneral principles disclosed herein. Further, this application isintended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as comewithin the known or customary practice in the art to which thisinvention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid spraying device with wide spray arccomprising: a casing comprising an opened end for receiving a liquidunder pressure, a holding end to accommodate said liquid under pressure,and a narrow neck region capable of being folded between said opened endand said holding end; a ball received within said opened end for sealingsaid neck region between said opened end and said holding end to form acheck valve, such that impact of said device will cause straightening ofsaid narrow neck region to permit dislodging the ball by liquid pressurethereby dispensing liquid from said holding end through said opened end;said opened end further comprising a nozzle affixed thereto, said nozzlecomprising an attachment means for fixedly attaching said nozzle to saidopened end wherein said nozzle comprises at least two liquid guidingholes.
 2. A liquid spraying device as in claim 1 wherein said casing iscomprised of a single seamless material.
 3. A liquid spraying device asin claim 2 wherein said single seamless material is an elastic,nonporous material.
 4. A liquid spraying device as in claim 1 whereinsaid liquid guiding holes are distributed throughout the surface of saidnozzle such that said liquid spraying device will flail erratically assaid liquid emerges from said nozzle.
 5. A liquid spraying device as inclaim 4 wherein said nozzle comprises two sets of liquid guiding holes,an upper set of liquid guiding holes and a lower set of liquid guidingholes; said upper set of liquid guiding holes are equally spaced alongan upper perimeter of the nozzle and are angularly pitched in an uprightdirection; and said lower set of liquid guiding holes, equally spacedalong a lower perimeter of the nozzle, perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the nozzle, wherein the center points of said liquid guidingholes are offset from the center point of the nozzle cavity in order toinduce spin to said spraying device.
 6. The device of claim 5 furthercomprising a crimping means for holding the check valve in the neck ofsaid case.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said crimping means is atrip-wire actuated release mechanism that operates by the trip-wireremoving a cotter pin from said crimping means.
 8. A liquid sprayingdevice as in claim 1 wherein: said ball is inserted into said neckregion a distance sufficient to allow the opened end and a portion ofthe neck region to be folded to further secure the ball within the neckof said casing; and a cap covering and holding the folded portion of thecasing with a pin extending thorough opposite ends of the cap and underthe fold in the casing.
 9. A liquid spraying device as in claim 1wherein said liquid is a marking fluid.